proper arrangement for this business, and to report thereon to the Congress.

4th. And for the purpose of conveying intelligence, in case of invasion, your Committee report, that it be recommended to the several County Committees in this Colony, to appoint and engage some one or more of their own body, whose place of residence shall be convenient for the purpose, or any other discreet person or persons who shall live on or near the most publick roads that lead from New-York through their respective Counties, to have a person and horse in readiness to forward intelligence in case of invasion; and that the Committees fix the several stages, in their respective Counties, from ten to about fifteen miles distance, and make a return thereof to the Congress, with the names and places of abode of the persons to be employed as aforesaid.

5th. That a letter be written to the Commissioners appointed for erecting a Battery on the banks of Hudson’s River, requesting them to examine whether it is practicable to obstruct the navigation of Hudson’s River, between this City and the said Battery, and, if so, in what place and how, and that they report thereon with all convenient speed. And that the said Commissioners be also desired to report whether there are any other places on Hudson’s River, where small Batteries may be erected so as to annoy the enemy in their passage, and, particularly, whether the Point on the west shore, a little above Verplanck’s Point, and at or near Moore’s House, would not be proper places for that purpose; and that they be requested to report to this Congress, with all convenient speed, such places as they shall think may be advantageously fortified, with an estimate of the expense, and an account of the number and weight of ordnance that will be wanting, and when, in their opinion, the works could be completed.

6th. Your Committee further report, that it is their opinion that four Companies of Matrosses, consisting of eighty men each, will be necessary to occupy the Forts on Hudson’s River, when completed, and that one Company at least should be immediately enlisted for that purpose; and that it will be proper to write to the Continental Congress for their direction on this subject.

7th. That a copy of the Continental Resolution of the 7th instant, together with such parts of this report as respect the said resolution, be sent to the Assembly of Connecticut and the Provincial Congress of New-Jersey, together with a letter, requesting their advice on the subject of conveying intelligence in cases of invasion, and of receiving assistance when necessary.

Resolved, That this Congress does agree with their Committee in their Report.

The draught of a Letter to the Colonels of the Militia and Minute-Men was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress at New-York, October 17, 1775.

SIR: In order that timely assistance may be had, in case of an invasion on this Colony, directions will be given by the Congress for erecting beacons at some and cannon in other places of the Colony, to alarm the country; these signals, when erected, will be so arranged as to prevent any mistakes in the alarm. You are requested to give orders to your Regiments, that upon any alarm so made, they muster, completely equipped and with provisions, at some convenient place of rendezvous to be appointed by you, and remain there till you shall receive marching orders from the Congress or your commanding officer.

Please to acquaint us with the place you shall appoint for the rendezvous.

We are your humble servants.

To the Colonels of the Militia and Minute-Men.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted.

A draught of a Letter to the Congress of New-Jersey, and to the Governour and Company of Connecticut, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

SIR: We enclose you a copy of an order of Congress, directing us to confer with you on the speediest manner of conveying intelligence, in cases of invasion, and of receiving assistance when necessary. We also enclose a plan for that purpose, for your consideration, and beg you will favour us with your sentiments on the subject, with such amendments or additions to it as you may think necessary.

We are your very humble servants.

Ordered, That two copies thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and one copy thereof be directed to the Congress of New-Jersey, and another copy to the Governour and Company of Connecticut.

A draught of a Letter to the Continental Congress was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, October 17, 1775.

SIR: We have used all possible despatch to complete the fortifications on Hudson’s River, and we expect they will be in such forwardness in about six weeks, as to have most of the cannon mounted. The Commissioners have been directed to make the necessary inquiries respecting the other small batteries, and in the obstructing of the navigation of Hudson’s River, mentioned by Congress in their order of the 7th instant, to which due attention shall be paid. We are of opinion that four Companies of Matrosses, consisting of at least eighty men each, will be wanted to occupy these forts when completed, and that one Company at least should be immediately raised, that we may in time have men properly trained to the use of cannon, as the utility of our fortifications will much depend upon it.

We are, &c.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and, together with a copy of the above Reports of the Committee, be transmitted.

Ordered, That Mr. Peter T. Curtenius be requested to purchase fifty thousand Flints and five tons of Lead, for the use of this Colony.

Messrs. John Griffith and Thomas Vardell, two of the Wardens of the Port of New-York, delivered in an estimate of the Pilot-Boat named the Bishop of Llandaff, which was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“New-York, October 18, 1775.

“We, the subscribers, have examined the Pilot-Boat named the Bishop of Llandaff, and find her to be worth the sum of four hundred and ninety-six Pounds, this currency.

“JOHN GRIFFITH,
“THOMAS VARDELL.”

A Receipt from Colonel Goose Van Schaick to Christopher Duyckinck, for fourteen hundred pounds of Powder, delivered at Albany on the 10th instant, was read and filed.

A Letter from John Hanson, one of the Commissioners for erecting the Fortifications in the Highlands, dated and received yesterday, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Monday, October 16, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: I shall esteem it a very particular favour if you will appoint somebody to act in my place as one of the Commissioners for erecting fortifications on Hudson’s River, as I have always intended going to the West-Indies the last of this month. I shall return up the river, and give you every assistance in my power during my stay here, and bring with me the joint opinion of all the gentlemen, relative to the new instructions sent to us from the Continental Congress.

“I am, with esteem and respect, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

“JOHN HANSON.”

Ordered, That the said Letter remain for consideration till a proper person can be thought of as a Commissioner.

Robert North and Ferboss, two of Hudson’s River Skippers, came into Congress, and complained of some disagreeable treatment which they received at the new Fortifications. Thereupon, a draught of a Letter to the said Commissioners was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, October 17, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We have received complaints from sundry persons with relation to the conduct of some among you who have maltreated the commanders and passengers of vessels navigating Hudson’s River, for not lowering the